Texas Tech University Athletics
Obanor, Adams address Oklahoma State matchup
March 02, 2023 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Faced with playing the final game of the regular season on Saturday against Oklahoma State, Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams and senior Kevin Obanor met with the local media to talk about the game, senior day, and the rapidly approaching postseason. The Red Raiders understand the position they're in at 5-12 in Big 12 play and know that winning out is crucial toward their goal of reaching their fifth straight NCAA Tournament is on the line. Tech hosts the Cowboys at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the United Supermarkets Arena and will then play at the Big 12 Championship beginning on Wednesday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Coach Adams began the press conference by talking about Oklahoma State which took a 71-68 win in the first matchup between the two teams on February 8 in Stillwater. The game was tied before a putback in the final second gave the Red Raiders a loss. They responded with a four-game winning streak, starting with home wins over Kansas State and Texas.
"We're playing a team in Oklahoma State that I think has the best athletes in the league," he said. "The best shot blockers with Kalib Boone, Moussa Cisse and Tyreek Smith. We'll have to do a really good job around the basket with shot fakes before we go up. They are extremely good in transition because of their athleticism. They get up and down the court very quickly. That was one of our challenges in Stillwater – getting back on defense and guarding those post players. They hurt us there. We will be playing a veteran team. They have four starters back and older guys. They're a very good team that have proven that this year."
Obanor comes into the 154th game in his career with 2,118 points, 1,081 rebounds and 37 double-doubles. He has six double-double in the NCAA Tournament over the past two years and talked about this time of the basketball season.
"It's March and is when players become players," Obanor said. "This is when an entire new gear comes into place. It's been an emotional year, especially these last few games that are actually promised. I'm just excited. I don't regret anything, even the way this season has went. The losses build endurance and makes a person resilient. I'm grateful for these last couple of weeks. I'm trying to tell these young guys to appreciate it. It goes fast. It's already March and all we can do is take it one day at a time and take advantage of it. I have full faith that anything is possible. You just have to remain positive. Without faith, there's no telling where I'd be. We have to see ourselves winning and believe in ourselves. That's where the vocal part of me being positive and servant leader is important. That's what I need to be."
Adams also talked about Obanor, a player who is in his second season at Tech after three seasons at Oral Roberts. Obanor has started all 67 games for the Red Raiders since his transfer and has scored 812 points during that time. He leads Tech this season with 14.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
"I don't have enough time to say all the great things about Kevin," Adams said. "He's been a tremendous leader and person with strong faith. He has been the glue that had kept our team together through all our adversity. We certainly hope to have a lot of fans and students there to celebrate his last game. It'll be a great time for him and also sad for me because he is a guy I'll hate to say goodbye to."
Adams addressed questions about the team's situation at 5-12 following a one-point loss to No. 24 TCU last Saturday and a 75-72 loss at No. 3 Kansas on Tuesday night on the road. Both games came down to the final plays of the game but resulted in losses following a four-game winning streak. Tech has now lost six of its 12 conference games by five points or less.
"Close games has been our theme in the Big 12," Adams said. "We have been in just about every game except for two. It's been a one or two possession game in almost all of them. It's a young group that we are still trying to get to understand how to close. We played the best team in the country in Kansas in two really close games that came down to the final 30 seconds. It's something to build on because we know we're good enough to be anybody. We just have to close that margin."
For the full press conferences, watch the videos below.
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Coach Adams began the press conference by talking about Oklahoma State which took a 71-68 win in the first matchup between the two teams on February 8 in Stillwater. The game was tied before a putback in the final second gave the Red Raiders a loss. They responded with a four-game winning streak, starting with home wins over Kansas State and Texas.
"We're playing a team in Oklahoma State that I think has the best athletes in the league," he said. "The best shot blockers with Kalib Boone, Moussa Cisse and Tyreek Smith. We'll have to do a really good job around the basket with shot fakes before we go up. They are extremely good in transition because of their athleticism. They get up and down the court very quickly. That was one of our challenges in Stillwater – getting back on defense and guarding those post players. They hurt us there. We will be playing a veteran team. They have four starters back and older guys. They're a very good team that have proven that this year."
Obanor comes into the 154th game in his career with 2,118 points, 1,081 rebounds and 37 double-doubles. He has six double-double in the NCAA Tournament over the past two years and talked about this time of the basketball season.
"It's March and is when players become players," Obanor said. "This is when an entire new gear comes into place. It's been an emotional year, especially these last few games that are actually promised. I'm just excited. I don't regret anything, even the way this season has went. The losses build endurance and makes a person resilient. I'm grateful for these last couple of weeks. I'm trying to tell these young guys to appreciate it. It goes fast. It's already March and all we can do is take it one day at a time and take advantage of it. I have full faith that anything is possible. You just have to remain positive. Without faith, there's no telling where I'd be. We have to see ourselves winning and believe in ourselves. That's where the vocal part of me being positive and servant leader is important. That's what I need to be."
Adams also talked about Obanor, a player who is in his second season at Tech after three seasons at Oral Roberts. Obanor has started all 67 games for the Red Raiders since his transfer and has scored 812 points during that time. He leads Tech this season with 14.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
"I don't have enough time to say all the great things about Kevin," Adams said. "He's been a tremendous leader and person with strong faith. He has been the glue that had kept our team together through all our adversity. We certainly hope to have a lot of fans and students there to celebrate his last game. It'll be a great time for him and also sad for me because he is a guy I'll hate to say goodbye to."
Adams addressed questions about the team's situation at 5-12 following a one-point loss to No. 24 TCU last Saturday and a 75-72 loss at No. 3 Kansas on Tuesday night on the road. Both games came down to the final plays of the game but resulted in losses following a four-game winning streak. Tech has now lost six of its 12 conference games by five points or less.
"Close games has been our theme in the Big 12," Adams said. "We have been in just about every game except for two. It's been a one or two possession game in almost all of them. It's a young group that we are still trying to get to understand how to close. We played the best team in the country in Kansas in two really close games that came down to the final 30 seconds. It's something to build on because we know we're good enough to be anybody. We just have to close that margin."
For the full press conferences, watch the videos below.
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Players Mentioned
F
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